Freddie Prinze Jr.

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Freddie Prinze Jr.
Prinze in June 2016
Born
Freddie James Prinze Jr.

(1976-03-08) March 8, 1976 (age 48)
Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Occupations
  • Actor
  • screenwriter
Years active1995–present
Spouse
​
​
(m. 2002)​
Children2
Parent

Freddie James Prinze Jr. (born March 8, 1976)[1] is an American actor. He has starred in films such as I Know What You Did Last Summer (1997) and its sequel I Still Know What You Did Last Summer (1998), She's All That (1999), Summer Catch (2001), Scooby-Doo (2002), and its sequel Scooby-Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed (2004). Prinze has also had recurring and starring roles in television shows, including Friends (2002), Boston Legal (2004), Freddie (2005–2006) and 24 (2010). He voiced Kanan Jarrus in the Disney XD series Star Wars Rebels. He is the only child of comedian and actor Freddie Prinze.

Early life[edit]

Freddie James Prinze Jr. was born in Los Angeles on March 8, 1976, the only child of Katherine Elaine Prinze (née Cochran) and actor and stand-up comedian Freddie Prinze.[2][3]

On January 29, 1977, Freddie Prinze died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound, after which Prinze Jr. relocated with his mother to Albuquerque, New Mexico.[2] Prinze was raised Catholic.[4] His paternal grandmother was from Puerto Rico[5][6] and he is fluent in Spanish.[6][7] By the age of 15, he was inspired to get into show business after his dying grandfather told him he needed to "fix what your father f-ed up." Prinze had originally planned to become a civil engineer.[8] Soon after that he saw Neil Patrick Harris at his high school getting kids excited about getting into acting, and he decided to do that.[9] After graduating from La Cueva High School in 1994, Prinze moved to Los Angeles to audition for television roles.[10][11][12]

Career[edit]

Television and film[edit]

Prinze was cast in a guest role on the ABC TV series Family Matters in 1995. He then appeared in a few programs and made-for-TV movies, before making his motion picture debut in To Gillian on Her 37th Birthday in 1996. In subsequent years, Prinze appeared in youth-oriented movies I Know What You Did Last Summer (1997) and its sequel I Still Know What You Did Last Summer (1998), made him known to teenage audiences. His first leading role, the romantic comedy She's All That (1999), grossed $63 million in the United States.[13]

Subsequently, he had leading roles in Wing Commander (1999), Down to You (2000), Boys and Girls (2000), Head over Heels (2001), and Summer Catch (2001), most of which were disliked by critics[14] and had moderate box office success.[15]

Prinze Jr. at the 2009 San Diego Comic-Con

He played Fred Jones in the 2002 live-action film version of the popular cartoon Scooby-Doo, and reprised the role in the 2004 sequel, Scooby-Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed, both alongside his wife Sarah Michelle Gellar and along with Matthew Lillard and Linda Cardellini. He guest starred on the popular NBC show Friends as a sensitive male nanny named Sandy on the series' 200th episode. He took the role of Sandy after Tom Hanks could not do it due to scheduling.[16] He also appeared as Donny Crane, a character believed to be Denny Crane's son in the ABC legal drama-comedy Boston Legal. Prinze starred in his own television sitcom, titled Freddie. The sitcom is said to depict some actual events from his life, and was cancelled after one season in May 2006. He guest starred on George Lopez for a crossover with Freddie. In 2004, Prinze accepted a special award from TV Land on behalf of his late father. He thanked his father's former co-star Della Reese for her continued advice and support. In 2006, he lent his voice to the character of Pi in the computer-animated film Shark Bait. Also in 2007, he lent his voice to the character of Rick in Happily N'Ever After along with his wife Gellar, Wallace Shawn, Andy Dick, George Carlin, and Sigourney Weaver. In 2008, he auditioned for Jigsaw in Punisher: War Zone, but was not given the part at the decision of Lionsgate Studios. He later was the voice of the titular character in the animated movie Delgo.[17] In 2010, Prinze guest starred on Psych as Dennis, a grade school friend of Shawn Spencer and Burton Guster. In March 2019, Prinze was cast as Nancy Drew's father, Carson Drew, in The CW mystery pilot Nancy Drew, but was later replaced by Scott Wolf.[18] He also voiced the future version of Tim and Jim Possible in the Kim Possible movie Kim Possible: A Sitch in Time.[19]

In March 2009, it was announced that Prinze had signed on to star as Bradley, aka Ultimatum, in the ABC show No Heroics, a U.S. remake of the British show of the same name.[20][21][22] The show was not picked up, but Prinze was cast as a series regular for the eighth season of the television show 24; he played Cole Ortiz, a new CTU operative.[23]

In 2021, Prinze joined the reboot of Punky Brewster on Peacock, playing the title character's ex-husband.[24]

Other work[edit]

He voiced a pilot in a Vatta's War: Trading in Danger graphic audio book. Prinze voiced different characters in BioWare video games: Lieutenant James Vega in Mass Effect 3 and The Iron Bull in Dragon Age: Inquisition.[25][26] He returned to the role of James Vega again for the animated feature film Mass Effect: Paragon Lost, dubbed by FUNimation. From 2014 until 2018, he was the voice of Kanan Jarrus, one of the last surviving Jedi Knights, on the Disney XD series Star Wars Rebels.[27] He reprised the role for the opening scene of the pilot episode of the Disney+ series The Bad Batch in May 2021.[28] In March, 2023, he launched a new podcast, That Was Pretty Scary, with cohost Jon Lee Brody. [29]

Professional wrestling[edit]

Work with WWE (2008–2009, 2010–2012)[edit]

Prinze is a WWE fan and was seen on television in attendance at the March 2008 WrestleMania XXIV pay-per-view and its preceding Hall of Fame ceremony. He also made a cameo on an episode of The Dirt Sheet, an online program hosted by wrestlers John Morrison and The Miz.[30] He had created an official profile on WWE's "Universe" blog community where he would regularly write his thoughts about the current goings-on in the world of the WWE. His relationship with the company was furthered when he was hired as a member of the creative staff to contribute to weekly television and pay-per-view programming for the SmackDown brand.[31][32] It was reported on February 22, 2009 that Prinze and WWE had parted ways. In January 2021, Prinze explained that he had actually chosen to leave the company at that time.[33][34]

On August 17, 2009, Prinze appeared on Raw as a special guest host, where he was assaulted by then WWE Champion Randy Orton after refusing to bail Orton out of his tag team match with John Cena, who was due to challenge him in the upcoming SummerSlam.[citation needed] Prinze later returned to the program and got his payback during Orton's match with Cena against Big Show and Chris Jericho, by setting up a lumberjack match involving Mark Henry, Primo, Evan Bourne, Kofi Kingston, MVP, and Jamie Noble.[citation needed]

Prinze returned to WWE on October 1, 2010 in a role as a producer and director.[35] On the November 1, 2010 episode of Monday Night Raw, Prinze made an on-screen appearance as Vince McMahon's doctor, a dream sequence scene that coincided with Linda McMahon's attempt to win a seat in the Senate for the state of Connecticut.[36][37] Prinze left WWE for a second time due to a comment made by Stone Cold Steve Austin to a contestant while taping an episode of the fifth season of WWE Tough Enough.[38]

Podcast (since 2021)[edit]

In November 2021, Prinze started his own podcast Wrestling With Freddie with cohost Jeff Dye.[39]

Premier Streaming Network[edit]

In April 2023, Freddie Prinze Jr. joined the ownership team of Premier Streaming Network, a growing independent streaming platform focused on wrestling, sports, and entertainment content.[40] He became a co-owner alongside streaming industry veterans Paul Owen and Josh Shernoff, and bestselling author Fredric Shernoff.[41] Together, the ownership team aims to expand Premier's offerings and bring innovative content to a global audience, while championing independent creators and building a strong community of fans.

Personal life[edit]

Prinze Jr. with his wife Sarah Michelle Gellar at the 2007 Tribeca Film Festival

Prinze dated actress Kimberly McCullough from 1996 until 1999.[42]

He married actress Sarah Michelle Gellar on September 1, 2002, in Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco, Mexico. The couple met several years before, while filming I Know What You Did Last Summer (1997),[43] started dating in 2000 and were engaged in April 2001. They also co-starred in Scooby-Doo (2002), Scooby-Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed (2004), Happily N'Ever After (2006), and Star Wars Rebels (2014–2018). Gellar also made a non-speaking cameo in Prinze's film She's All That. They have two children together: a daughter born September 2009, and a son born September 2012,[44][45] and live in Los Angeles.[46]

Prinze is an avid practitioner of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and has reached the rank of purple belt in the sport, having been promoted under Jean Jacques Machado.[47]

Filmography[edit]

Film[edit]

Year Title Role Notes
1996 To Gillian on Her 37th Birthday Joey Bost
1997 The House of Yes Anthony Pascal
Sparkler Brad
I Know What You Did Last Summer Ray Bronson
1998 I Still Know What You Did Last Summer
1999 She's All That Zachary "Zack" Siler
Wing Commander Lt. Christopher Blair
2000 Down to You Alfred "Al" Connelly
Boys and Girls Ryan Walker
2001 Head over Heels Jim Winston/Bob Smoot
Summer Catch Ryan Dunne
2002 Scooby-Doo Fred Jones
2004 Scooby-Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed
2005 Shooting Gallery Jericho Hudson Also producer
2006 Shark Bait Pisces "Pi" Voice role
Happily N'Ever After Rick
2007 Brooklyn Rules Michael Turner
New York City Serenade Owen
2008 Jack and Jill vs. the World Jack
Delgo Delgo Voice role
2012 Mass Effect: Paragon Lost Lieutenant James Vega
2015 Misery Loves Comedy Himself
2019 Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker Kanan Jarrus[48]
2022 Clerks III Auditioner
Christmas with You Miguel Torres
2023 Glisten and the Merry Mission Donner Voice role

Television[edit]

Year Title Role Notes
1995 Family Matters Tough Guy Episode: "The Gun"
1996 ABC Afterschool Special Jeff Episode: "Too Soon for Jeff"
1997 Detention: The Siege at Johnson High Aaron Sullivan Television film
1998 Vig Tony
2000 Brak Presents the Brak Show Starring Brak Himself
2002 Frasier Mike Voice role; episode: "Juvenilia"
Friends Sandy Episode: "The One with the Male Nanny"
2003 Kim Possible: A Sitch In Time Future Jim / Future Tim Television film; voice role
2004–2006 Boston Legal Donny Crane Recurring role (Season 1–2)
2005–2006 Freddie Freddie Moreno Lead role
Also co-creator, co-writer and executive producer
2006 George Lopez Episode: "George Gets Cross Over Freddie"
2007 Atlanta Eric
2009 No Heroics Bradley / Ultimatum
2009–2010 WWE Raw Guest Host; Vince McMahon's Doctor 2 episodes
2010 24 Cole Ortiz 24 episodes
Psych Dennis Episode: "Not Even Close, Encounters"
2012 Happy Valley Noah Unaired pilot
2005–2022 Robot Chicken Fred Jones / Various (voice) 7 episodes
2013 Witches of East End Leo Wingate Episodes: "A Few Good Talismen", "Unburied"
2013–2014 Bones Danny Beck 2 episodes
2014–2018 Star Wars Rebels Kanan Jarrus (voice) Animated series
2016 Bordertown Tut (voice) Episode: "The Engagement"
First Impressions Self / Host 6 episodes
Movie Trivia Schmoedown Self / Commentator Web series
2021 Star Wars: The Bad Batch Caleb Dume (voice) Episode: "Aftermath"
Punky Brewster Travis 10 episodes
2022 WWE Rivals Himself Host
2023 AEW Dynamite Himself

Video games[edit]

Year Title Voice role
2012 Mass Effect 3 Lt. James Vega
2014 Dragon Age: Inquisition The Iron Bull
2015 Disney Infinity 3.0 Kanan Jarrus
Star Wars Rebels: Recon Missions
2021 Mass Effect: Legendary Edition Lt. James Vega

Awards and nominations[edit]

Year Award Category Work Result
1996 Golden Globe Awards Mr. Golden Globe (Shared with Jaime Nicole Dudney as Miss Golden Globe) Himself Won
1998 Blockbuster Entertainment Awards Favorite Actor – Horror I Know What You Did Last Summer Nominated
1999 Won
Teen Choice Awards Choice Movie: Actor She's All That
Alma Awards Outstanding Actor in a Feature Film in a Crossover Roll I Still Know What You Did Last Summer Nominated
Teen Choice Awards Choice Chemistry for Sexiest Love Scene (Shared with Rachael Leigh Cook) She's All That Won
MTV Movie Awards Best On-Screen Duo (Shared with Rachael Leigh Cook) Nominated
Teen Choice Awards Choice Movie: Actor Down to You Won
Choice Chemistry (Shared with Julia Stiles) Nominated
2000 Alma Awards Outstanding Actor in a Feature Film She's All That
Blockbuster Entertainment Awards Favorite Actor – Comedy/Romance
Kids' Choice Awards Favorite Movie Couple (shared with Rachael Leigh Cook) Won
2002 Teen Choice Awards Choice Movie: Comedy Actor Scooby Doo Nominated
Choice Chemistry (Shared with Sarah Michelle Gellar)
Golden Raspberry Award Worst Supporting Actor
2013 Behind the Voice Actors Awards BTVA People's Choice Voice Acting Award – Best Vocal Ensemble in a Video Game Mass Effect 3 Won
Nominated
2015 Best Vocal Ensemble in a Video Game Dragon Age: Inquisition Won
Best Vocal Ensemble in a New Television Series Star Wars: Rebels Nominated
2018 Best Vocal Ensemble in a Television Series

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Freddie Prinze, Jr.: 1976—". Encyclopedia.com. Cengage. Retrieved May 5, 2022.
  2. ^ a b "Biography by Rebecca Flint Marx". AllMovie. Retrieved September 26, 2022.
  3. ^ Buckner, Johnathan (February 12, 2022). "What is Kathy Prinze doing now? Freddie Prinze Wife's Biography". biographypost.org. Biography Post. Retrieved December 3, 2022.
  4. ^ Associated, Press (February 10, 2009). "Prinze brings his family values to 'Freddie'". Early Today. Archived from the original on September 22, 2012. Retrieved April 29, 2010.
  5. ^ "Hispanic Magazine.com – September 2005 – Cover Story". Hispanic Magazine. Archived from the original on May 17, 2008.
  6. ^ a b Jacobs, Jay S. (May 12, 2007). "Freddie Prinze, Jr. & Mena Suvari". PopEntertainment.com. Retrieved October 12, 2007.
  7. ^ "PopEntertainment.com: Freddie Prinze, Jr. & Mena Suvari interview about 'Brooklyn Rules.'". www.popentertainment.com. Retrieved June 20, 2021.
  8. ^ "Acting Bonds Freddie Prinze's Son to His Dad". Los Angeles Times. December 24, 1995. Retrieved August 4, 2023.
  9. ^ Seitz, Matt Zoller (April 23, 2015). "Misery Loves Comedy". rogerebert.com. Retrieved July 21, 2021.
  10. ^ "Freddie Prinze Jr. is Freddie Moreno on Freddie". Wchstv.com. Archived from the original on October 3, 2010. Retrieved March 18, 2010.
  11. ^ joeyguse (November 27, 2010). "The Tragic Side of Comedy- Freddie Prinze". Archived from the original on December 12, 2021. Retrieved August 15, 2014 – via YouTube.
  12. ^ Reed, J.D. (November 18, 1996). "Fresh Prinze". People. Archived from the original on February 5, 2009. Retrieved August 10, 2023.
  13. ^ "She's All That", IMDb.com, January 29, 1999, retrieved January 30, 2018
  14. ^ "Freddie Prinze, Jr". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved April 16, 2019.
  15. ^ "Freddie Prinze Jr". Boxofficemojo.com. Retrieved September 21, 2014.
  16. ^ Cordero, Rosy (November 14, 2019). "Freddie Prinze Jr. says Tom Hanks was supposed to play Sandy on Friends". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved December 29, 2023.
  17. ^ "Punisher: War Zone, episode #20 of How Did This Get Made? on Earwolf". Earwolf.com. October 3, 2011. Retrieved October 1, 2012.
  18. ^ Petski, Denise (March 15, 2019). "Freddie Prinze Jr. To Star In the CW's Nancy Drew Pilot". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved May 8, 2019.
  19. ^ "Kim Possible: A Sitch In Time (Movie) Cast - All Actors and Actresses". Television Stats. January 16, 2024. Retrieved January 18, 2024.
  20. ^ "Freddie Prinze Jr. Joins The Cast Of No Heroics". Shockya.com. March 20, 2009. Retrieved March 18, 2010.
  21. ^ "Freddie Prinze Jr. to Star in No Heroics U.S. Remake". Film Junk. March 20, 2009. Retrieved March 18, 2010.
  22. ^ "US TV – News – Freddie Prinze Jr cast in 'No Heroics'". Digital Spy. March 20, 2009. Retrieved March 18, 2010.
  23. ^ "Freddie Prinze Jr. "hated every moment" of 24, disses Kiefer Sutherland".
  24. ^ "Punky Brewster's Ex-Husband Is Freddie Prinze Jr. in Peacock Sequel". TVLine.com. October 23, 2019. Retrieved October 24, 2019.
  25. ^ "Mass Effect 3 – James Vega Featurette". Gametrailers. Retrieved October 1, 2012.
  26. ^ "Freddie Prinze Jr. Voicing Dragon Age: Inquisition". Retrieved June 20, 2014.
  27. ^ "New STAR WARS REBELS Video Introduces Kanan, the 'Cowboy Jedi'". Newsarama.com. February 11, 2014. Retrieved August 15, 2014.
  28. ^ Cao, Caroline (May 4, 2021). "Star Wars: The Bad Batch retcons a Jedi backstory that's key to Rebels". Polygon. Archived from the original on January 1, 2023. Retrieved March 15, 2023.
  29. ^ "That Was Pretty Scary". Wondery | Premium Podcasts. Retrieved April 17, 2023.
  30. ^ ""The Dirt Sheet" – June 6, 2008". WWE.com. Retrieved October 1, 2012.
  31. ^ "Prinze Jr. Joins WWE Creative Team" (Press release). World Wrestling Entertainment. July 30, 2008. Archived from the original on August 6, 2008. Retrieved August 2, 2008.
  32. ^ Ross, Jim (July 31, 2008). "Give Adamle a Chance... McCain's Former MMA Views Concern me... Smackdown's Closing segment Friday night is a classic... SNME..." JR's Blog. JRsBArBQ.com. Archived from the original on August 5, 2008. Retrieved August 2, 2008. Freddie Prinze Jr. is going to be involved creatively in the Smackdown brand from what I gather.
  33. ^ "Freddie Prinze Jr. Reveals Why He Quit WWE, Was Going to be Head Writer of SmackDown | Fightful News".
  34. ^ "WWE > Big star leaves WWE's creative team". NoDQ.com. Archived from the original on February 24, 2009. Retrieved March 18, 2010.
  35. ^ "Various News: Big Brother Star Offered TNA Deal, Freddie Prinze, Jr. Back With WWE, More". 411mania.com. October 13, 2010. Retrieved October 1, 2012.
  36. ^ "WWE: Premier Shows". WWE. Retrieved September 21, 2014.
  37. ^ LeAnne Gendreau (September 27, 2012). "Vince McMahon, Freddie Prinze Jr. Get Political With Potty Humor". NBC Connecticut. Retrieved October 1, 2012.
  38. ^ "Freddie Prinze Jr quit WWE job after a comment by Steve Austin". Digital Spy. February 3, 2021.
  39. ^ Miller, Nick (September 12, 2022). "Freddie Prinze Jr. Names AEW All Out Match That Saved First Part Of The Show". WrestlingInc.com. Retrieved September 14, 2022.
  40. ^ "Freddie Prinze Jr. Joins Premier Streaming Network as Co-Owner". Yahoo News. April 11, 2023. Retrieved April 17, 2023.
  41. ^ Burnett |, Matia. "Patience Pays Off: An Indie Success Story". PublishersWeekly.com. Retrieved April 17, 2023.
  42. ^ "Buffy the Bachelor Slayer". People. April 30, 2001. Archived from the original on November 1, 2008. Retrieved August 10, 2023.
  43. ^ "Freddie Prinze Jr. -Articles". Ilovefreddie.com. Archived from the original on May 29, 2006. Retrieved March 18, 2010.
  44. ^ Hochman, David (September 9, 2013). "Still Crazy: Years after Mork and Buffy, Robin Williams and Sarah Michelle Gellar hope to rope us in with a new sitcom". TV Guide. pp.16 – 19.
  45. ^ "Sarah Michelle Gellar, Freddie Prinze Jr. have a new baby boy", Los Angeles Times, September 25, 2012.
  46. ^ "Sarah Michelle Gellar & Freddy Prinze Jr. List Their LA Home (Bid Farewell To New Neighbors Kim and Kanye)". Domaine. Retrieved April 6, 2014.
  47. ^ Rogers, Kian (September 3, 2021). "Actor Freddie Prinze Jr Receives BJJ Purple Belt From Jean Jacques Machado". Jits Magazine. Retrieved January 7, 2022.
  48. ^ Yehl, Joshua (February 13, 2020). "Freddie Prinze Jr Shares the Story Behind Kanan's Cameo in Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker". IGN. Archived from the original on March 5, 2020. Retrieved September 12, 2020.

External links[edit]

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